Sir Roger Manwood's School
95%
Capacity
1,016
Pupils
3.5x
Demand
About Sir Roger Manwood's School
Sir Roger Manwood's School sits comfortably above the Kent local authority average for Progress 8, posting a score of 0.21 against the LA average of -0.13. That gap of 0.34 is a solid indicator that pupils here make stronger progress than their peers across the county. The school ranks 34th out of 106 state secondaries in Kent, placing it in the top third of the authority. Its Attainment 8 score of 63.2 is notably high, and the basics measure — the percentage of pupils achieving grade 5 or above in English and maths — stands at 86.2%, a figure that reflects strong core subject performance. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 rated it Good across all categories, including quality of education, behaviour, personal development, and leadership. This is a step down from its previous Outstanding rating in 2012, but the inspection report still paints a picture of a school that is performing well above the local norm.
At GCSE, the school's Progress 8 banding is rated as Average, but the individual subject breakdowns reveal some variation. Progress in the EBacc subjects is notably strong at 0.41, while English progress is slightly negative at -0.17, suggesting the school's humanities and languages provision may be a particular strength. The EBacc entry rate is high at 73.6%, and 53.5% of pupils achieved the full EBacc at grade 5 or above. At A-level, the picture is more mixed: the value-added score is -0.12, placing it in the Average band, with an average points per entry of 35.59, equivalent to a B- grade. The best three A-levels average out at B-, and 15.4% of entries achieved AAB or higher. The sixth form is rated Good by Ofsted, and with 104 pupils in the cohort, it is a sizeable but not enormous provision.
The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 397 applications for 113 places, a ratio of 3.51 applicants per place, with 137 first-preference applications. This level of demand suggests strong local reputation. Facilities include a theatre, art studios, science labs, a sixth form centre, and extensive sports provision including rowing, swimming, and hockey. The school offers a wide range of clubs from Model UN to Young Enterprise, and its SEND provision covers a broad spectrum including dyslexia, autism, and speech and language needs. With 11.2% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the intake is slightly below the national average for disadvantage. This is a school that suits families looking for a high-performing, academically focused state secondary with a strong sixth form, but one where the pressure is balanced by good pastoral support and a broad extracurricular offer.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Manwood Road, Sandwich, Dover, CT13 9JX |
| Headteacher | Ben Pennells |
| Local Authority | Kent |
| Number of Pupils | 1,016 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 11.2% |
| School Capacity | 1,016 / 1,070 (95% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
27 Sept 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 10 Nov 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.21)
1053rd of 3,141
Nationally
167th of 461
In South East
3rd of 8
In Dover
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
39.1
'22/23
36.0
'23/24
35.6
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2379%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 152 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)79%
- FE college14%
- Apprenticeship2%
- Employment2%
98% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2356%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 128 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
36%
Russell Group
39%
Top-third HE
3%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)56%
- Employment29%
- Not sustained7%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Further education1%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Psychology45
- Chemistry27
- Mathematics25
- Biology24
- History24
- Geography23
- English Literature20
- Business Studies:Single17
- Government and Politics15
- Physics15
- Art and Design (Fine Art)13
- Film Studies13
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
20Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed113
397
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
137 families put this school as their 1st choice (35% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British83.2%
- Mixed5.7%
- White (other)5.5%
- Asian3.3%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
4
Total schools
3
Oversubscribed
2
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Sir Roger Manwood's School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Manwood Road, Sandwich
Dover, CT13 9JX
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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